Linked Life Data

12756485

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/12756485

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
2003-7-28
pubmed:abstractText
Marsupials, unlike placental mammals, are believed to be unable to increase heat production and thermal performance after cold-acclimation. It has been suggested that this may be because marsupials lack functional brown fat, a thermogenic tissue, which proliferates during cold-acclimation in many placentals. However, arid zone marsupials have to cope with unpredictable, short-term and occasionally extreme changes in environmental conditions, and thus they would benefit from an appropriate physiological response. We therefore investigated whether a sequential two to four week acclimation in Sminthopsis macroura (body mass approx. 25 g) to both cold (16 degrees C) and warm (26 degrees C) ambient temperatures affects the thermal physiology of the species. Cold-acclimated S. macroura were able to significantly increase maximum heat production (by 27%) and could maintain a constant body temperature at significantly lower effective ambient temperatures (about 9 degrees C lower) than when warm-acclimated. Moreover, metabolic rates during torpor were increased following cold-acclimation in comparison to warm-acclimation. Our study shows that, despite the lack of functional brown fat, short-term acclimation can have significant effects on thermoenergetics of marsupials. It is likely that the rapid response in S. macroura reflects an adaptation to the unpredictability of the climate in their habitat.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0174-1578
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
173
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
437-42
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-6-8
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2003
pubmed:articleTitle
Effects of temperature acclimation on maximum heat production, thermal tolerance, and torpor in a marsupial.
pubmed:affiliation
Zoology, BBMS, University of New England, 2351 Armidale, NSW, Australia. fgeiser@metz.une.edu.au
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't